A web log, an æthereal scrap-book if you will, with a somewhat vintage flavour. News items, occurrences, experiences, thoughts and opinions related to Victoriana through to Fifties Americana can all be found here.

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Wednesday, 23 February 2011

Jungle wreck MG car found in Borneo sold for £20,000

Another story of a classic [British] car being restored to its former glory now, only with the added twist of it originally being discovered in a Borneo jungle 40 years ago! The question has fairly been asked, "how the hell did it get there?!"; alas, we may never know the answer for certain. Perhaps some British diplomat stationed out there in the '50s had his favourite sports car shipped over for him to use? Just one of many possibilities, I suppose. (Incidentally, for some fine pictures of "forgotten" cars, or "sleeping beauties" as they would have it, I heartily recommend this site and book. Although, as I will reiterate, it is wonderful when an old wreck is restored sometimes machines left to the ravages of Nature hold an almost artistic fascination.)

Restored and repatriated since then this example has made good money for an MG of the period (such as the one above), a testament to the patience and mechanical skills of the seller. It is always a great thing when someone is able to look at something most people would consider beyond salvaging and see the potential to bring it back to its original condition; it's a viewpoint that is sadly somewhat rare these days, I think.

Although I can understand why a lesser man might have baulked at the thought of taking on a project such as this, considering the state the car was in to begin with(!), I admire and am grateful to Mr Standen for recognising the opportunity to give a new lease of life to what is, as he quite rightly calls it, "a piece of British automotive history". It is clear that the new owner feels as much and I'm certain that this particular MG has many more miles of motoring left in it!

2 comments:

Thank you once again Bruce for bring us a piece of wonderful ever so intresting information.I would so love to restore a vintage car, if only I had found this one, I am green with envy. (note to self check all jungle carefully when on hoilday). Tee Hee.I too admire and am grateful to Mr Standen for recognising the opportunity to give a new lease of life to what is, as he quite rightly calls it, "a piece of British automotive history".

About Me

A fan of all things vintage (say, roughly, the period 1875-1950 - but
particularly the '20s and '30s), including steam/dieselpunk,
retro-futurism, motor cars, aeroplanes, steam locomotives, fashion,
jazz, film and culture. Just looking to brighten people's days with the
odd jolly story. Pip-pip!